Addicted to E-Bay

[HurricaneGirl]

My husband is addicted to E-Bay.. I can't get him to quit buying stuff on there. He says he's saving money on stuff he needs. Some of the stuff he buys is for his drums, like cymbals. Then the cymbal arrives and he doesn't like the way it sounds. He also buys alot of Women's Prison Movies that are so cheesy and stupid. I think he's finally starting to getting over that.

Every time I try to tell him he is getting out of hand he gets mad at me and says he buys stuff for me too. I think he does that once in a while just to shut me up. I think he is in denial. His credit card statement is getting out of control but he makes his payments yet he wonders why he can't save any money.

He wastes alot of time on there and is always bidding on something. He'll get really upset if someone outbids him or runs the price up to high. Sometimes we even have to leave band practice early because he has to be home in time for a bid that is closing out.

I have tried to reason with him and tell him that this is getting a hold of him and he needs to look at what this is doing. He just gets pissed off at me. If I want to get on the computer in the evening I have to repeatedly ask him to get off of E-Bay, then he'll want me to hurry up. What gets me mad is I bought and paid for that computer.

What can I do to get him to stop doing this besides getting rid of the computer?

[GalvestonDuck]

Isn't there a way to block sites such as stuff sites and other "unsafe" sites? Maybe you can block Ebay. Like keep the computer from accepting cookies from there or something so the page won't load.

Does he at least turn around and sell the stuff he doesn't like so that he can get part or all of his money back? I'll admit, I went a little crazy when I first discovered Ebay and found lots of old Patty Duke collectables that I thought I'd never find. I just kept bidding on EVERYTHING. It didn't take long to realize that I just needed to be selective and patient with my bids.

Does he take time to check the seller's feedback and so forth, to make sure it's worth getting the item from that particular person? I got one videotape of a rare movie that ended up being nothing more than a home-recorded VHS with poor reception and commercials. I checked the feedback and found lots of negative FB on this seller because he was selling bootlegs. Served me right for jumping the gun because my first thought was "Oooh, gotta have this or I'll never find it again!"

Women's prison movies? Does he have that one with the blonde chick who...? Nevermind. Honestly, never really got into those myself. I think I remember one with Stephanie Zimbalist and I remember an old British series that ran (or maybe re-ran) back in the late 70's, early 80's called "Cell Block H." I thought it was weird.

[HurricaneGirl]

Yes, sometimes he sells the stuff, like this rug he ordered for under his drums. He didn't like it and he ended up selling it to the drummer of my old band. He did sell a couple cymbals, but one he just threw it into the woods behind our practice room like a frisbee.

He does check feedback but sometimes he is still dissatisfied with what he gets. He at first didn't check feedback, but he's learned his lesson now to do that. He ordered a Hudson Hornet Clock for my Dad and it was a Wal-Mart clock with a terrible picture in it.

It's not just that it's all the time he spends on there too. Then he wonders why I fall asleep on him half the time.

About the movie, he probably has it...he has about every one I can think of.

Thanks for the advice Duck!

[Skywatch_NC]

Mary, what about investing into a computer of your own? That way you're not having to compete for time use on your current one.

Eric

[GalvestonDuck]

Mary, what about investing into a computer of your own? That way you're not having to compete for time use on your current one.

Eric

That's the problem...she's the one who bought the one he's using. So, she already has her "own" computer, but he's taken it over.

There's an idea -- maybe you should advise him to bid on a computer for himself.

[Skywatch_NC]

Mary, what about investing into a computer of your own? That way you're not having to compete for time use on your current one.

Eric

That's the problem...she's the one who bought the one he's using. So, she already has her "own" computer, but he's taken it over.

There's an idea -- maybe you should advise him to bid on a computer for himself.

That way he won't keep 'hijacking' your's.

[HurricaneGirl]

We have discussed getting another computer and that would totally solve the problem. The dilemma is space. We live in a small apartment and there just isn't anywhere to put it. The one we have now is in our bedroom, which is already overcrowded. We will have to wait until we move to a bigger place to get computer #2.

We have a small 2nd bedroom and that is another whole problem...... When George moved in he put so much stuff in there you can't even use the room. He refused to put his Bongos and Congas in the storage unit because of the heat. He also has a bunch of other crap in there too.

It used to be my Music Room and was really cool and functional. I have begged him to clean it out. Maybe twice over the last year, he took a box or a few things to our storage unit and hasn't gone in there since.

[GalvestonDuck]

You guys need to call those guys on that TLC show "Clean Sweep." They'd organize EVERYTHING and get you lots of room.

[Guest]

I feel your pain, I really do. Computers are addicting, whether it be eBay or whatever else you do! I wish I knew the answer, but I haven't figured it out yet. I try to get the computer addict in my life to compromise and have 1 day a week with no computer time, but that has yet to happen (the addict shall rename nameless). Maybe your hubby would be willing to come to a compromise like that? Good luck.
...Jennifer...

[HurricaneGirl]

Great Idea Duck!!

Thanks Jennifer... I have a pretty good idea who you are talking about!!

[Amanzi]

I echo Jennifers sentiments!!!! Its a really good idea. If space is an issue.. dare I say this, but look on e-bay for a used lap top, my hubby just bought one for $375.00 it works great and came with a warrenty, even though it is an older model!

[HurricaneGirl]

Now that's a great idea!! A laptop..HMMMMM